La notion de reste dans le choix du nom personnel en Birmanie (Myanmar)

The Burmese have no patronymic. They have instead multiple personal names which, in combination, generally form two or three monosyllables. These names are either given by others or chosen by the individual and are selected using a widely-known system called mahābut. This paper examines how, according to the internal logic of this system, the name bears a dual aspect of fatality and free will. All calculations, including those related to astrology, begin with a number generated by taking the remainder of the year of birth divided by seven. By the association of the numbers produced by the various calculations with a chart of syllables, it is possible to assemble a name. The remainder (from which the name is generated) introduces a notion of randomness or freedom which minimizes the belief in karmic predestination.Robinne François. La notion de reste dans le choix du nom personnel en Birmanie (Myanmar). In: Aséanie 1, 1998. pp. 91-105